Fatal Roads

States › North Carolina › 1990

1990

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 1990

Deaths 1,385Fatal crashes 1,250Per 100,000 —US deaths 44,599

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Final FARS file for 1990.

In 1990, 1,385 people died in 1,250 fatal crashes in North Carolina.

The death toll fell 6% from 1,471 in 1989 to 1,385 in 1990.

North Carolina accounted for 3.1% of the 44,599 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

43.8% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

35% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 198919901991 →All years

Compared with 1989 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 1990North Carolina 1989United States 1990
Deaths1,3851,47144,599
Fatal crashes1,2501,32139,836
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver44%39%40%

Counties in 1990

Every county with a fatal crash in 1990, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 97 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Mecklenburg County62736.11,059
Wake County52554.5772
Robeson County374941.3531
Gaston County394418.2277
Cumberland County353811.2501
Guilford County35386.8649
Forsyth County34369.0419
Catawba County293219.2237
Iredell County262914.1238
Johnston County272811.2341
Durham County26277.9296
Randolph County252718.2261
Davidson County252514.1306
Columbus County232549.9204
Harnett County232517.1293
Onslow County172511.7231
Wilson County212430.0164
Pitt County212312.7261
Alamance County202312.6214
Rowan County192214.3233
Wilkes County162233.2129
Rockingham County192122.5155
Caldwell County182126.0123
Buncombe County20207.2347
Union County19197.2232
Wayne County171815.0209
Chatham County161821.5141
Lenoir County121730.7129
Lincoln County161616.4127
Sampson County161626.5199
Edgecombe County151632.6118
Moore County151614.8183
Orange County151610.5147
Burke County141618.1142
Nash County131616.3232
Brunswick County15159.0214
Halifax County151531.9152
New Hanover County15156.2210
Cleveland County141514.7208
Bladen County131550.4108
Granville County121422.7138
Haywood County111422.2108
Bertie County101482.660
Carteret County131318.593
Richmond County131331.0106
Cabarrus County12135.3235
Martin County121360.446
Lee County101319.0135
Vance County91228.395
Rutherford County111116.8118
Pender County91115.7159
Scotland County101029.5120
Craven County9109.6131
Watauga County91018.258
Surry County81014.0141
Yadkin County81026.391
Beaufort County9920.271
Davie County9919.869
Henderson County997.5123
Northampton County9954.373
Person County9922.460
Franklin County8810.0154
Stanly County8811.995
Stokes County8817.470
Caswell County7731.355
Hoke County7712.6138
Greene County6733.936
Madison County6731.345
Gates County5658.334
Dare County4615.743
Alleghany County5543.917
Hertford County5526.161
Alexander County4410.957
Anson County4417.861
Avery County4422.524
Currituck County4412.445
Duplin County447.9181
Macon County4410.354
Pamlico County4431.923
Pasquotank County449.763
Ashe County3311.043
Montgomery County3311.491
Jackson County1–236.676
Jones County1–2331.726
Chowan County1–21–2—19
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Polk County1–21–2—35
Transylvania County1–21–2—35
Warren County1–21–2—71
Washington County1–21–2—16
Swain County1–21–2—24
Camden County1–21–2—9
Cherokee County1–21–2—58
Clay County1–21–2—21
McDowell County1–21–2—70
Perquimans County1–21–2—21
Yancey County1–21–2—28

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am4.3%
1am3.7%
2am3.8%
3am3%
4am1.7%
5am1.8%
6am3.4%
7am3.4%
8am2.6%
9am2.7%
10am3.4%
11am2.6%
12pm3.4%
1pm3.8%
2pm4.5%
3pm5.6%
4pm5.8%
5pm5.4%
6pm6.6%
7pm5.5%
8pm6.3%
9pm5.2%
10pm6.1%
11pm5.4%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday11%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday11%
Thursday12%
Friday18%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 1990?

1,385 people in 1,250 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1990 file.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 1990?

Mecklenburg County with 73 deaths in 62 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1990 compare with 1989 in North Carolina?

1,385 deaths against 1,471 in 1989 (+-6%). Nationally the 1990 total was 44,599.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1990 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.